After serving more than 50 years in the priesthood, Father Dan Derry – a beloved community figure whose work in the Catholic Church influenced generations of Gilroy and Morgan Hill residents – is leaving behind a “faithful and faith-filled” legacy in South County.
From weddings, to wakes, intimate Bible studies to the annual Blessing of the Animals where Derry flings holy water on miniature horses to iguanas to unsuspecting humans, the last 17 years of the bilingual 75-year-old’s career were spent as the parish priest giving pastoral care to the St. Mary’s community, which is comprised of more than 5,000 families. Prior to that, Derry spent 12 years as the pastor of St. Catherine’s Church in Morgan Hill.
The gregarious papal figure known for his spirited laugh and hearty grin wasn’t praying for retirement, however.
“I don’t like it,” he blurted bluntly with comical stubbornness, when asked Tuesday afternoon how “retirement” was going.
“I’m segueing into it,” he continued. “I’m going from chaos to confusion to a new challenge.”
Per the mandatory priest retirement age of 75, as dictated by the Catholic Church’s cannon law, Derry says he’s just “following the rules.”
“But in reality, I have no desire to slow down,” he admitted.
So he won’t. Derry will continue to serve and guide; a fitting encore for a man whose favorite Bible verse begins with, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11).
“It’s good to know the image of Christ is a loving and compassionate one,” he reflects.
Soon, Derry will move to Salinas and do “everything I do here (at St. Mary’s), apart from administration and finances” at Madonna Del Sasso Parish, where the added bonus of working alongside Pastor Greg Sandman – aka “my best priest friend” awaits him.
And when he’s not helping tend the flocks, Derry plans on spending a little time in heaven.
Heaven on earth, that is.
A skier for 30 years and counting, Derry still enjoys his annual trip to Heavenly Ski Resort, Tahoe, where he shreds the powder like a pro and doesn’t let Sandman forget it.
“We ski together and I beat him all the time,” cackles Derry.
Since the pastoral torch at St. Mary was officially passed Jan. 1 to Rev. Robert Brocato, 62, Derry’s forthcoming and permanent move to Salinas is cause for nostalgia among folks such as Church Office Manager Debbie Pelliccione. She wistfully recalls when Derry arrived at St. Mary’s nearly 18 years ago.
“People are sad to see him go,” Pelliccione said. “He is very compassionate. He has so much love for the poor and the homeless. It’s hard to fill any pastor’s shoes, everything is going to change – it’s all going to be different.”
Pelliccione emphasized just how much of an uprooting experience this will be for Derry, who as pastor lived in the rectory at St. Mary’s.
“We are probably one of the last open rectories for the priest, it’s not separated, so to speak. He lives where he works; it’s all one building,” she explained. “In most parishes either the priest lives off site, or if they live on site in a separate building.”
Lily Armenta, 52, has been a parishioner at St. Mary’s for 28 years and met Derry while on a youth group mission trip to Mexico prior to his arrival to the church.
“He has so much respect for the Latin culture and that is so admirable. Also, his heart always advocates for the poor,” Armenta said choking back tears. “That is what I learned most from him as a role model – he has a big heart and if anyone needs help, he helps.”
Derry says he will “miss this job” but keeps his sense of humor as he considers what his future may hold. His “fantasy” retirement involves donning clerical garb and setting up a booth at Gavilan College, “like in Charlie Brown, with a sign that reads ‘service, advice, help: 5 cents.’”
As for his successor, Derry has all the confidence in Brocato, with whom he shares a 20-year working history.
“He was my No. 1 recommendation to the bishop for my replacement,” Derry said. “He and I worked together at Christ the King Church in San Jose, which I founded in 1993. He has the best qualities of a priest: Gentleness and openness. He worked in Jamaica recently serving the poor with his time and talents. Making the sacrifices he did and working in such an impoverished area shows his deep dedication.”
Ordained in July of 1995, Brocato is a priest of the Diocese of San Jose and had been on sabbatical since July of 2012. Prior to that, he spent three years on special assignment in Montego Bay, Jamaica, serving there on a special mission with Maryknoll missionaries. Brocato is also the former pastor of seven years at Christ the King Catholic Church in San Jose.
“I feel very lucky to be replacing someone like Father Dan. I have known and respected him for years and I truly admire him and what his sense of church is – it must connect to the community and commit to being there for all the entire community,” Brocato said. “I would like to continue with that same idea.”
Derry eagerly shared what strengths he thinks Brocato will bring to St. Mary’s – most notably Brocato’s ability to communicate with English- and Spanish-speaking parishioners.
Derry will also miss, and be missed by St. Mary’s School students; many of whom he has known since they were born into the St. Mary’s Community.
Eighth-grader Molly Lowney, 14, has many childhood memories that include “Father Dan,” as he is affectionately known.
“I am sad, but also happy because it’s good he can retire. Father Dan baptized me so he has known me since I was a baby,” Lowney said. “My favorite thing is seeing him with his two dogs every day out on the field. I love that.”
Fourth-grader Delaney Ervin, 9, added, “Father Derry baptized me, too. I like that he is always with his dogs, Poncho and Bandita.”
“He is so dedicated to our school and is always there for us,” shared eighth-grader Emily Skahill, 14. “It is so sad to see him go.”
Roberta Ward, director of media relations for the Diocese of San Jose praises Derry’s career of service.
“As our Bishop Patrick J. McGrath would say, Father Derry is ‘faithful and faith-filled,’” Ward commented.
When asked what he is most proud of when looking back on his busy career, Derry took a moment to consider his answer.
“St. Joseph’s Family Center,” he said, referring to the local nonprofit that offers comprehensive social services out of the St. Mary’s campus on the corner of First and Church streets.
The organization started as a grassroots, modest group of people handing out small boxes of food back in the 1960s.
Today, St. Joseph’s has grown to become the second largest provider of services to the poor in South County, after the government.
The “thriving nonprofit and does amazing work in our community,” said Derry. “It is truly a community of believers that respond to the needs of the poor.”
Executive Director David Cox with St. Joseph’s describes Derry as “passionate” and a “strong voice for those that are underserved and less fortunate.”
“I have a feeling that his departure will be a loss for this community,” Cox said. “Everything he preaches is about action and how we can serve our fellow human beings. It’s bittersweet when you lose someone like that – it’s a pretty big hole.”
